It is known that the Blue Mountains existed during the First Age more formidable and longer than in the latter Ages;<ref name="Silm-map">{{S|Map}}</ref> whereas [[Morgoth|Melkor]] reared the [[Misty Mountains]] before the arrival of the [[Elves]] in order to hinder [[Oromë]]<ref name="Silm-Captive">{{S|Captivity}}</ref>. These ranges surrounded the eastern and western borders of Eriador.

It is known that the Blue Mountains existed during the First Age more formidable and longer than in the latter Ages;<ref name="Silm-map">{{S|Map}}</ref> whereas [[Morgoth|Melkor]] reared the [[Misty Mountains]] before the arrival of the [[Elves]] in order to hinder [[Oromë]]<ref name="Silm-Captive">{{S|Captivity}}</ref>. These ranges surrounded the eastern and western borders of Eriador.

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The [[Iron Mountains]] (''Ered Engrin'') stretched across the north of the world in a curve from east to west, standing on the border of the [[Dor Daedeloth|region of everlasting cold]]<ref name="Silm-Bel">{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> and can be considered that they were northern border of Eriador.<ref>It is also seen in [[:File:Arda001.gif|this map drawn by Tolkien]]</ref>

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The [[Iron Mountains]] (''Ered Engrin'') stretched across the north of the world in a curve from east to west, standing on the border of the [[Dor Daedeloth|region of everlasting cold]]<ref name="Silm-Bel">{{S|Beleriand}}</ref> and can be considered that they were northern border of Eriador.<ref>It is also seen in [[:File:Steven White Jr. - Arda001.gif|this map drawn by Tolkien]]</ref>

It is unclear what the borders of Eriador were to the south; it is unknown whether the [[Greyflood]] or [[Lhûn|Lune]] rivers even existed in the First Age. Presumably the Greyflood followed the same route through Eriador to the lower end of the extended Blue Mountains - before reaching the sea somewhere to the west of the [[White Mountains]].<ref name="Atlas">[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', revised edition, p. 4</ref>

It is unclear what the borders of Eriador were to the south; it is unknown whether the [[Greyflood]] or [[Lhûn|Lune]] rivers even existed in the First Age. Presumably the Greyflood followed the same route through Eriador to the lower end of the extended Blue Mountains - before reaching the sea somewhere to the west of the [[White Mountains]].<ref name="Atlas">[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', revised edition, p. 4</ref>

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==Geography==

==Geography==

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:''See also: [[:Category:Eriador]] and [[:Category:Cities, Towns and Villages of the Shire]]''

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:''See also: [[:Category:Eriador]] and [[:Category:Cities, towns and villages of the Shire]]''

Eriador was a large, inhabited temperate region in the north-west of [[Middle-earth]] which enjoyed warm summers and increasingly cool winters.<ref name="Prologue"/> At its widest extent, it stretched for around 675 miles from east-to-west, around 690 miles from north-to-south, 740 miles from northeast-to-southwest and 750 miles from northwest-to-southeast.<ref name="Distance">Estimates by [[User:Mith]] based on [[:File:Middle-earth map (1 of 4).png|the map from ''The Lord of the Rings'']]</ref>

Eriador was a large, inhabited temperate region in the north-west of [[Middle-earth]] which enjoyed warm summers and increasingly cool winters.<ref name="Prologue"/> At its widest extent, it stretched for around 675 miles from east-to-west, around 690 miles from north-to-south, 740 miles from northeast-to-southwest and 750 miles from northwest-to-southeast.<ref name="Distance">Estimates by [[User:Mith]] based on [[:File:Middle-earth map (1 of 4).png|the map from ''The Lord of the Rings'']]</ref>

** In the [[Westmarch of the Shire|Westmarch]] ({{FoA|31}} onwards).<ref name="App-B5" />

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** In the [[Westmarch]] ({{FoA|31}} onwards).<ref name="App-B5" />

* [[Men]]:

* [[Men]]:

** [[Edain]] and [[Easterlings]] during the [[First Age]] - their descendants stay into the [[Fourth Age]], some living at [[Bree]] and [[Eryn Vorn]];<ref name="UT-Wife" />

** [[Edain]] and [[Easterlings]] during the [[First Age]] - their descendants stay into the [[Fourth Age]], some living at [[Bree]] and [[Eryn Vorn]];<ref name="UT-Wife" />

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Not all of the Teleri continued on the march as when the host reached the great river [[Anduin]] [[Lenwë]] led some of his people southwards away from the rest of his kin: these people became the [[Nandor]].<ref name="Silm-Captive" /> Some of these people eventually passed into Eriador, and dwelt there for a time, before [[Denethor (Nando)|Denethor]], son of Lenwë, gathered as many of the Nandor as possible and removed to [[Ossiriand]] to become the [[Nandor#Lenwë and Denethor|Laiquendi]].<ref name="Silm-Sindar">{{S|Sindar}}</ref>

Not all of the Teleri continued on the march as when the host reached the great river [[Anduin]] [[Lenwë]] led some of his people southwards away from the rest of his kin: these people became the [[Nandor]].<ref name="Silm-Captive" /> Some of these people eventually passed into Eriador, and dwelt there for a time, before [[Denethor (Nando)|Denethor]], son of Lenwë, gathered as many of the Nandor as possible and removed to [[Ossiriand]] to become the [[Nandor#Lenwë and Denethor|Laiquendi]].<ref name="Silm-Sindar">{{S|Sindar}}</ref>

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Another group that awoke and appeared during this time were the [[Firebeard]] and [[Broadbeam]] Dwarves. After they had awakened beneath Mount Dolmed, they eventually crossed over into Beleriand in [[Years of the Trees 1250|1250]] and encountered the Sindar for the first time.

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They also built the two great Dwarf cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Ered Luin, which were the chief suppliers of weaponry to the Elves of Beleriand, and as well as home to the world's greatest crafters.

===First Age===

===First Age===

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:''See also: ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and [[War of the Ring]]''

:''See also: ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and [[War of the Ring]]''

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On [[14 March|March 14]], {{TA|2941}},<ref name="App-Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref> a chance encounter between the [[wizards|wizard]] [[Gandalf]] and [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King]] [[Thorin II Oakenshield|Thorin Oakenshield]] in [[Bree]] set in motion a series of events which led to the downfall of [[Sauron]] the establishment of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Thorin was seeking to regain his [[Thráin II|father]]'s [[Erebor|kingdom]] and [[Arkenstone|wealth]] was seeking assistance; Gandalf - worried about the threat of the [[dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] - agreed to assist, and forcibly enlisted the help of [[Bilbo Baggins]].<ref name="UT-Erebor">{{UT|Erebor}}</ref> As the [[Thorin and Company|Company]] of fifteen (thirteen [[dwarves]] with Gandalf and Bilbo) travelled towards [[Rivendell]] they [[Roast Mutton|encountered three trolls]] - thanks to Gandalf they avoided death whilst managing to gain the two [[Elves|Elvish]] swords [[Glamdring]] and [[Sting]]. Out of this quest Bilbo obtained [[Gollum]]'s [[The One Ring|magic ring]].<ref name="H-Riddles">{{H|Riddles}}</ref>

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On [[14 March|March 14]], {{TA|2941}},<ref name="App-Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref> a chance encounter between the [[wizards|wizard]] [[Gandalf]] and [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King]] [[Thorin II Oakenshield|Thorin Oakenshield]] in [[Bree]] set in motion a series of events which led to the downfall of [[Sauron]] the establishment of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Thorin was seeking to regain his [[Thráin II|father]]'s [[Lonely Mountain|kingdom]] and [[Arkenstone|wealth]] was seeking assistance; Gandalf - worried about the threat of the [[dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] - agreed to assist, and forcibly enlisted the help of [[Bilbo Baggins]].<ref name="UT-Erebor">{{UT|Erebor}}</ref> As the [[Thorin and Company|Company]] of fifteen (thirteen [[dwarves]] with Gandalf and Bilbo) travelled towards [[Rivendell]] they [[Roast Mutton|encountered three trolls]] - thanks to Gandalf they avoided death whilst managing to gain the two [[Elves|Elvish]] swords [[Glamdring]] and [[Sting]]. Out of this quest Bilbo obtained [[Gollum]]'s [[The One Ring|magic ring]].<ref name="H-Riddles">{{H|Riddles}}</ref>

Following [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Bilbo's disappearance]] in {{TA|3001}}, Bilbo's "nephew", [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], inherited all of Bilbo's possessions, including Bilbo's ring.<ref name="FR-Party">{{FR|Party}}</ref> Bilbo travelled through Eriador, eventually staying with [[Elrond]] in Rivendell, whilst Frodo continued to live in [[Bag End]]. However, by {{TA|3018}}, Frodo, with [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], is forced to set out from [[the Shire]] to head towards Bree in order to deliver what is now known to be [[the One Ring]]; on the way, the [[Hobbits]] encounter the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] and [[Barrow-wights]], as well as [[Farmer Maggot]], [[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] and [[Tom Bombadil]]. In [[Bree]], the [[Travellers]] met a man called "[[Aragorn|Strider]]", who had been sent to safely escort the hobbits to Rivendell;<ref name="FR-Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref> despite being attacked by Black Riders on [[Weathertop]] and again confronted by them at the [[Ford of Bruinen]], they all eventually make it safely to Rivendell. At Rivendell, a [[Council of Elrond|Council]] decides that [[Fellowship of the Ring|a group of nine people]] should go on a quest to destroy the Ring.<ref name="FR-Council" />

Following [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Bilbo's disappearance]] in {{TA|3001}}, Bilbo's "nephew", [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], inherited all of Bilbo's possessions, including Bilbo's ring.<ref name="FR-Party">{{FR|Party}}</ref> Bilbo travelled through Eriador, eventually staying with [[Elrond]] in Rivendell, whilst Frodo continued to live in [[Bag End]]. However, by {{TA|3018}}, Frodo, with [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], is forced to set out from [[the Shire]] to head towards Bree in order to deliver what is now known to be [[the One Ring]]; on the way, the [[Hobbits]] encounter the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] and [[Barrow-wights]], as well as [[Farmer Maggot]], [[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]] and [[Tom Bombadil]]. In [[Bree]], the [[Travellers]] met a man called "[[Aragorn|Strider]]", who had been sent to safely escort the hobbits to Rivendell;<ref name="FR-Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref> despite being attacked by Black Riders on [[Weathertop]] and again confronted by them at the [[Ford of Bruinen]], they all eventually make it safely to Rivendell. At Rivendell, a [[Council of Elrond|Council]] decides that [[Fellowship of the Ring|a group of nine people]] should go on a quest to destroy the Ring.<ref name="FR-Council" />

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===Fourth Age===

===Fourth Age===

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In the year {{SR|1422|n}} of [[Shire Calendar|Shire-reckoning]] the [[Fourth Age]] began following the department of the [[Ring-bearers]], the defeat of [[Sauron]] and re-establishment of [[Arnor]] in the north and [[Gondor]] in the south. In {{FoA|6}} [[Kings of Arnor|King]] [[Aragorn|Elessar]] of [[Arnor]] makes [[the Shire]] a [[Free Land]] under the protection of the [[Sceptre of Annúminas|Northern Sceptre]] and declares that no [[Men|man]] should ever enter the Shire.<ref name="App-B5">{{App|Later}}</ref> In {{FoA|15}} Elessar stays at [[Lake Evendim]], meeting his friends at [[Brandywine Bridge]]; in {{FoA|31}} he gives the [[Westmarch of the Shire|Westmarch]] - the area between the [[Far Downs]] and [[Tower Hills]] - to the Shire as well as officially adding [[Buckland]] to the Shire.<ref name="Prologue"/> In {{FoA|61}} [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] eventually passed over [[Belegaer|the sea]] and in {{FoA|63}} [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] leave the Shire and travel south to [[Rohan]] and [[Gondor]].<ref name="App-B5"/>

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In the year {{SR|1422|n}} of [[Shire Calendar|Shire-reckoning]] the [[Fourth Age]] began following the department of the [[Ring-bearers]], the defeat of [[Sauron]] and re-establishment of [[Arnor]] in the north and [[Gondor]] in the south. In {{FoA|6}} [[Kings of Arnor|King]] [[Aragorn|Elessar]] of [[Arnor]] makes [[the Shire]] a [[Free Land]] under the protection of the [[Sceptre of Annúminas|Northern Sceptre]] and declares that no [[Men|man]] should ever enter the Shire.<ref name="App-B5">{{App|Later}}</ref> In {{FoA|15}} Elessar stays at [[Lake Evendim]], meeting his friends at [[Brandywine Bridge]]; in {{FoA|31}} he gives the [[Westmarch]] - the area between the [[Far Downs]] and [[Tower Hills]] - to the Shire as well as officially adding [[Buckland]] to the Shire.<ref name="Prologue"/> In {{FoA|61}} [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] eventually passed over [[Belegaer|the sea]] and in {{FoA|63}} [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] leave the Shire and travel south to [[Rohan]] and [[Gondor]].<ref name="App-B5"/>

It is unknown how many, if any, [[Elves]] were left in Eriador during the Fourth Age; presumably very few [[Noldor]], at least.<ref name="RK-Havens"/>

It is unknown how many, if any, [[Elves]] were left in Eriador during the Fourth Age; presumably very few [[Noldor]], at least.<ref name="RK-Havens"/>

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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{{Transcribed|Eriador_tengwar.png|Eriador|Tengwar, Sindarin mode}}

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{{Transcribed|Tengwar Eriador.png|Eriador|Tengwar, Sindarin mode}}

There are at least two, slightly different, versions of the etymology of ''Eriador'':

There are at least two, slightly different, versions of the etymology of ''Eriador'':

It was inhabited by all the Free peoples of Middle-earth, being the location of many of the most important events of the Second and Third Ages. By the end of the Third Age its main inhabitants were Hobbits of the Shire and the surrounding lands.

Boundaries

First Age

It is known that the Blue Mountains existed during the First Age more formidable and longer than in the latter Ages;[1] whereas Melkor reared the Misty Mountains before the arrival of the Elves in order to hinder Oromë[2]. These ranges surrounded the eastern and western borders of Eriador.

The Iron Mountains (Ered Engrin) stretched across the north of the world in a curve from east to west, standing on the border of the region of everlasting cold[3] and can be considered that they were northern border of Eriador.[4]

It is unclear what the borders of Eriador were to the south; it is unknown whether the Greyflood or Lune rivers even existed in the First Age. Presumably the Greyflood followed the same route through Eriador to the lower end of the extended Blue Mountains - before reaching the sea somewhere to the west of the White Mountains.[5]

Geography

Eriador was a large, inhabited temperate region in the north-west of Middle-earth which enjoyed warm summers and increasingly cool winters.[6] At its widest extent, it stretched for around 675 miles from east-to-west, around 690 miles from north-to-south, 740 miles from northeast-to-southwest and 750 miles from northwest-to-southeast.[7]

Not all of the Teleri continued on the march as when the host reached the great river AnduinLenwë led some of his people southwards away from the rest of his kin: these people became the Nandor.[2] Some of these people eventually passed into Eriador, and dwelt there for a time, before Denethor, son of Lenwë, gathered as many of the Nandor as possible and removed to Ossiriand to become the Laiquendi.[15]

Another group that awoke and appeared during this time were the Firebeard and Broadbeam Dwarves. After they had awakened beneath Mount Dolmed, they eventually crossed over into Beleriand in 1250 and encountered the Sindar for the first time.
They also built the two great Dwarf cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Ered Luin, which were the chief suppliers of weaponry to the Elves of Beleriand, and as well as home to the world's greatest crafters.

In S.A.600 the first Númenórean ships began to visit Middle-earth and when news of this reached the Men of Eriador they were amazed and scared. On the Tower Hills the Númenóreans met with just twelve Men from Eriador and both sides recognised their ancient kinship: the Númenóreans discovered that these people lived in the hills east of the Baranduin and were likely the descendants of the people of Bëor and Hador who never crossed the Blue Mountains.[20]

In S.A.725Aldarion first visits Lindon and Eriador and begins a long-lasting friendship with Gil-galad. He made many voyages to Middle-earth and established the haven of Vinyalondë (later known as Lond Daer) on the banks of the river Gwathir - a move which proved crucial in defeating Sauron later in the Second Age.[20] As a mariner, Aldarion had a great desire to build ships and in order to this he began deforesting much of the Minhiriath and Enedwaith; this angered the native forest-dwelling Men who subsequently fled to the forest of Eryn Vorn.[11]

War with Sauron

The Noldor of Eregion grew in unparalleled friendship with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, to the benefit of both peoples, and there was much traffic between the Elven city of Ost-in-Edhil and the West-gate of Moria. In Eregion the Elven craftsmen became great in knowledge as they were led by Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor, the most skilled of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain ("the People of the Jewel-smiths").[30]

Sauron saw that the Elves of Eregion were vulnerable and he came to them in the guise of Annatar, "Lord of Gifts", and they welcomed him and he taught them many things of lore and smith-craft. In S.A.1500, when the knowledge and skill of the Elves reached its height, they began the forging of the Rings of Power, but, in S.A.1600, Sauron secretly created the One Ring to rule over all the other Rings.[30]

When Sauron put on the Ring the Elves realised they had been fooled so they hid all the other Rings from him; Sauron, however, demanded that all the Rings be given to him as they were created with his help. When the Elves refused Sauron was vengeful and in S.A.1693 began the War of the Elves and Sauron with an invasion of Eriador in 1695.[30] In 1697, with Celebrimbor's death and Eregion lain waste, Elrond founds the refuge of Imladris as a defence against Sauron; Sauron takes over all of Eriador by S.A.1699 and besieges Imladris.[16]

Gil-galad sent word to KingTar-Minastir of Númenor calling for aid, but when the ships finally arrived in S.A.1700 (landing in Lindon and Vinyalondë) Sauron was already preparing his invasion of Lindon. The forces of Gil-galad, Elrond and Ciryatur caused heavy losses at Sarn Ford before Sauron's forces were utterly destroyed at the Battle of the Gwathló, with Sauron barely escaping with his life. However, Eriador lay in ruins as many of the native Men, Elves and Númenóreans had been killed by Sauron and his forces had ravaged the lands and destroyed many of the remaining forests.[11]

The unity of Arnor was broken, however, when, in Third Age861, following the death of the tenth king, Eärendur, the dissension amongst his three sons led to the division of Arnor into three kingdoms: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. There was often strife between the kingdoms, especially over ownership of the Weather Hills and the chief Palantír of the North at Amon Sûl, and this quickened the waning of the Dúnedain.[21]

The line of Isildur was maintained with the Kings of Arthedain all the way through to Aragorn II, but the line of kings in Cardolan and Rhudaur quickly dwindled. By 1349, with the rule of Argeleb I, the Kings of Arthedain were once again claiming lordship over all of Arnor and prefixed their names with ar- in recognition of this.[25]

Rise of Angmar

In the year T.A.1300[18] evil things begin to return to the world with the Witch-king founding the evil realm of Angmar beyond the Ettenmoors in the far north-east of Eriador, hoping to utterly destroy the Dúnedain of the North, seeing hope in the fragmentation of Arnor.[21]

Destruction of Arnor

After many years of silence, King Araphant of Arthedain and King Ondoher of Gondor renewed communications between the two realms as they perceived that there was a single power directing the enemies or both Arnor and Gondor,[33] as such in T.A.1940 Araphant's son Arvedui married Ondoher's daughter Fíriel.[18] Despite the marriage, neither kingdom was able to send aid to the other as Angmar continued to attack Athedain while the Wainriders attacked Gondor; in the Battle of the Camp of T.A.1944 Ondoher was killed.

On the death of Ondoher and his sons, Arvedui of the North-kingdom claimed the crown of Gondor, as the direct descendent of Isildur, and as the husband of Fíriel, only surviving child of Ondoher. The claim was rejected. In this Pelendur, the Steward of King Ondoher, played the chief part.

The Council of Gondor answer: "The crown and royalty of Gondor belongs solely with the heirs of Meneldil, son of Anárion, to whom Isildur relinquished this realm. In Gondor this heritage is reckoned through the sons only; and we have not heard that the law is otherwise in Arnor."—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"

Instead, a distant relative, Eärnil, was chosen as King. Arvedui did not press his claim, but nor did the Dúnedain of the North forget it, for their kingdom diminished as foretold by Malbeth the Seer: in T.A.1974 Angmar returned with renewed vigour, attacking the Dúnedain, capturing Fornost and destroying Arnor. After holding out for a while on the North Downs, Arvedui was forced to flee to the mountains where he stayed in some old dwarf mines; out of hunger, he and his men travelled north and spent the winter with the Lossoth on the Icebay of Forochel. Arvedui perished and two palantíri were lost.[21]

Eärnil had told Arvedui, "I do not forget the royalty of Arnor, nor deny our kinship, nor wish that the realms of Elendil be estranged. I will send to your aid when you have need, so long as I am able."[33] In T.A.1973 he received a request for aid and sent his son, Eärnur, north with a great host: they arrived at the Grey Havens too late. However, in T.A.1975Círdan and Eärnur amassed a great army and met the forces of Angmar on the plain by Lake Nenuial in the Battle of Fornost: the force was too strong for the Witch-king and his army fled but his retreat was cut off by Gondor's cavalry and a host of Elves led by Glorfindel who had come north from Rivendell.[18]

Despite the utter destruction of Angmar, Arthedain was also over. Arvedui's son, Aranarth, took the title "Chieftain of the Dúnedain" and the heirlooms of Arnor were given into the keeping of Elrond.[18] The Dúnedain continued as a secretive and wandering people, fighting with the sons of Elrond to protect their former lands: they mostly lived out their full lives (save for Aragorn I who was slain by wolves) until the days of Arassuil when evil things began to multiply again.[21]